As it so often goes in sports, a team can out-play and out-shoot another team, but end up on the opposite end of the scoreboard.
The Lady Flames women’s soccer team experienced that twice last week, as they dropped matches against the VMI Keydets and the Charleston Southern Buccaneers by identical scores of 2-0.

After the two games, the Flames now stand at 0-2 in the Big South and 0-7-1 overall.

In both games Liberty put on early pressure, but the Keydets and Buccaneers both scored two second half goals to capture victory.
The first game was played on the road against the Keydets at Patchin Field.

Senior Mallory Neff opened the match with a shot that sailed high over the Keydet goalkeeper.

Minutes later, freshman Bekah Moye sent a shot on net that merited a save from VMI’s Heidi Beemer.

During a four-minute span, the Lady Flames threw their best chances of the half on cage, including senior Amy Oberlin’s blast from the top of the penalty box.

Sustaining the early first half Liberty pressure, VMI scored the first goal of the contest, early in the second half. Christina Gontarski notched the eventual game-winner, when she fired a shot from outside the 18-yard box to take the lead 1-0.

The Keydets added to the lead six minutes later, when Olivia Moore put away a Christy Beach rebound at 52:14.

Sophomore Maria Owen tested Beemer in the 69th minute, almost cutting into the Keydet lead.

Freshman Silvia Betancourt sent a shot on goal that found its way past an out-of-position Beemer but was swept away by the VMI defense.

Freshman goalkeeper Karen Blocker stopped three shots for Liberty, and Beemer turned aside five shots for the Keydets.

The Flames outshot the Keydets 19-12 and attempted more corner kicks, 6-3.

Liberty hosted the Charleston Southern Buccaneers for a weekend match, and finished with another 2-0 setback.

Liberty held the edge in shots 20-14, a 4-3 advantage in penalty kicks and made Buccaneer goalkeeper Alyssa Budros make eight saves, but the team could not find a way to get on the scoreboard.

Early on, Charleston Southern tested Blocker five times, but Blocker was there to meet all of the chances.

Senior Emily House provided some opportunities for the Flames in the 30th minute with a shot from the left side. Budros had to make a spectacular diving save to keep the Flames off the scoreboard.

The half ended scoreless as both teams were putting pressure on each other.

The Flames just about broke the scoreless tie in the first minute of the second half. Oberlin headed a shot off the crossbar, but Budros was able to deny the rebound attempt, sending it out of bounds.

The Buccaneers responded to the Liberty chance with a goal by Caitlin Wesnesky. Wesnesky was fed a pass inside the 18-yard box and put her second goal of the year away at 48:36.

Budros held the lead for Charleston Southern, when she steered aside an Owen shot from in close.

Lindsey Trexler staked the Buccaneers to a 2-0 lead when she put home a rebound in the 57th minute for her first of the season.
The Buccaneers withstood a late Flames flurry and went away with their fourth victory of the season.

The Flames will travel to South Carolina to finish off the home and home series with Coastal Carolina. Liberty will play its next home game Oct. 8 against High Point at 4 pm.